YMCA Interview Questions & Tips

Hiring process information for an interview at YMCA

Getting an Interview at YMCA

YMCA stands as one of the leading non-profit organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The community-based outfit always looks for socially conscious applicants interested in helping others. Individuals with a desire to work in a non-profit field typically best fit positions available. Applicants may apply online or at a local center in person. Interviewers employ phone prescreening, one-on-one interviews, and panel interviews. In certain cases, group interviews featuring team-building exercises may prove necessary. Some positions may also require skill demonstrations for consideration.

Lengthy Hiring Process

The average length of the YMCA interview process depends on the specific job title. Entry-level positions may feature interviews lasting only a few days or as much as up to two weeks. Management or corporate positions could take as long as four to six weeks to assume and onboard. Applicants meet with interviewers one-to-one or encounter panel assessments in order to distinguish candidacies from other job hopefuls.

Typical Interview Questions

Some interview questions focus on customer service aspects, such as, "If you were alone on the job, the phone is ringing, a line has formed, and a difficult customer is at the front of the line; what would you do?" Other positions may require personality assessments and behavioral questions, like:

"What is your experience working with children?"

"Have you worked in the non-profit sector before?"

"Where do you see yourself five years down the road?"

How to Prepare

With the YMCA emphasizing community focus, interview questions often center on the positive impacts of helping others. Prepare for potential inquiries by reviewing the company mission statement and core values (caring, honesty, respect and responsibility).

Stand Out Among the Competition

Ideal candidates for YMCA job interviews include individuals with prior non-profit/volunteer experience as well as excellent customer service skills. Workers must regularly highlight past and related work experiences for employment consideration. Additionally, job seekers should ask questions relevant to the position applied for in order to demonstrate genuine interest in the non-profit organization. Provide well-thought-out and honest answers to interview questions.

Following Up After the Interview

Follow up with the non-profit company frequently in order to inquire about the job status. In cases where numerous people apply for the same position, job seekers may not hear back in regards to an employment offer for a few days and in some instances as much as several week.

YMCA Pool Cleaner Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.YMCA Pool Cleaner: For the YMCA, I was pool boy, pretty much – swept the bottom of the pool, windows, swept the pool deck, all sort of stuff like that. It’s just kind of varied from day to day.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?YMCA Pool Cleaner: Honestly, just the free membership.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.YMCA Pool Cleaner: Usually, what I did… I just checked in. When I changed into my swimsuit, I walked around the pool deck, did anything that needed done. I went over my list for stuff that needed done that wasn’t on my list and then just followed that list from there.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?YMCA Pool Cleaner: Usually, you just fill out the application online. Most times, you fill it out, do the interview. But, I got lucky that time and didn’t have to do the interview. Because I was a volunteer there for so long, they didn’t really make me do the interview.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?YMCA Pool Cleaner: Think positive, do the best you can at answering their questions, and just dress appropriate.

YMCA Instructor Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.YMCA Instructor: I was a school-age teacher, and it was an afterschool program. We would take the kids on field trips, then help them with their homework and all that good stuff.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?YMCA Instructor: I would have to say the kids because of different personalities, and we get to do fun stuff with them.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.YMCA Instructor: Busy. You have to really watch them because you know those aren’t your kids. You have them in your hands, so the parents want to them to be alright once they come and pick their children up.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?YMCA Instructor: It’s just like a regular application form. They ask you questions, like work experience and all that stuff, your strengths and weaknesses.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?YMCA Instructor: Strengths and weaknesses, if you had to describe yourself, give them a word, if you had experiences with children, in the kitchen, or on the other side, like the workout stuff.

Interviewer: What set you apart from the other candidates?YMCA Instructor: I think my experience, and I told them that I was in school for dietetics, and I wanted to work with children. So, I think that helped a lot.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?YMCA Instructor: Be friendly and just be open.

YMCA Instructor Interview Video 2

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.YMCA Instructor: I am a lifeguard, swimming instructor, ballet instructor, tumbling instructor, and creative movement’s instructor, and my primary duties are to instruct children how to learn their things better and also to save pedestrians and safeguard the environment.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?YMCA Instructor: My favorite part is, for me, the children. When I come in and I’m instructing, I love seeing their faces and being able to work with them, say, “Hey, let’s play a game, and at the end of the game, they had fun, but in the process, they also realized they were learning how to kick their legs, or they were learning how to jump, or tumble, or somersault, to roll.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.YMCA Instructor: Typically, you get to work about 15 minutes early, and you really only work for about two, two-and-a-half hours, maybe four at a time. You come in, you get ready, you go and you teach for about 45 minutes, then the next class comes in, another 45 minutes. Then, if you’re lucky, your day’s over. If you’re not, you have another class, another 45 minutes, then you’ll lifeguard or do another class.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?YMCA Instructor: It was pretty much a walk-in. I walked in and went straight to the supervisor. Then, it was a handwritten application. They asked me a few questions on-site with the walk-in. Then, about two weeks later, I had the interview. I came dressed up in like a suit and really dressy pants, and they threw me in the water. So, dress casual, business casual with khakis, but it’s pretty much just a handwritten interview.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?YMCA Instructor: They wanted to know if I had swimming experience, experience with kids, and volunteer experience.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?YMCA Instructor: I have a very upbeat, smiling personality and pretty much walked in and asked for the position straight up, because I had got some hints from some people that had worked there. And, I didn’t really dress nice. I wore jeans and a nice button-up shirt. And I think what set me apart was I was really straightforward with my questions, and I smiled while they were asking them, and was really kind and polite.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?YMCA Instructor: Pretty much, go to your local facility and ask what positions they have available. Then, once you know what positions they have available, see what suits you the best. So, when you go in for the application, you want to go straight to the supervisor who is in charge of that department because the supervisors don’t really interact that much with each other. So, if you go to the supervisor in aquatics, and not the dance or Pilates, they don’t really interact. So you need to go to each instructor, if you want to be the Pilates assistant or teacher.

YMCA Childcare Worker Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.YMCA Childcare Worker: I’ve had two job titles there. The first one was a childcare worker and the second one that I am currently working as is a SACC teacher, which is before and after-school programs for children at elementary schools.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?YMCA Childcare Worker: It’s a very warm environment, especially with the children, and it’s easy to have genuine relationships with people there. And it makes it really warm and friendly.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?YMCA Childcare Worker: Definitely the kids, because they make it so enjoyable and make it a lot of fun.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.YMCA Childcare Worker: We have a set schedule, so a typical day – the kids come in and we have centers for a while. There’s history and math, basically all of the subjects, and then we have physical activity for an hour, and then gym afterwards.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?YMCA Childcare Worker: The process was basically I just went to the YMCA that I was interested in working at and filled out an application, and from there I heard back from my now supervisor, and she followed up with an interview.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?YMCA Childcare Worker: Primarily, they wanted to know why I was interested in working there, and a lot of other questions were what are my strengths and weaknesses and some of my things that I was looking forward to working at YMCA about.

Interviewer: What set you apart from other candidates?YMCA Childcare Worker: I think my enthusiasm. I love children, and I think that really showed throughout my interview. I also had history working at the Y before applying to the second location, so I think that gave me an advantage, as well.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?YMCA Childcare Worker: I would advise that they go into it wholeheartedly and ensure that they really want to apply for this position, because it requires a lot of dedication. And have fun, I guess.

I recently did an interview with local YMCA for an administrative assistant position. When I went for the interview, they said it’s a newly created position that used to be part of the accounting department but now became independent that will serve associate director. Basically I would do administrative work as well as some accounting work over the after school child care programs. Luckily I got a second interview with them, which is tomorrow. Wish me luck!
The first interview was with the associate director herself and I, and she asked me mostly behavioral questions requiring examples from specific situations.
– How I can handle reporting to multiple people on different issues
– My conflict resolution skills and how I resolved confrontations with people
– How I handle stress
– Why I came to apply for YMCA
– How would my friends would describe me
The interview lasted about 20-30 minutes and the conclusion is that it was harder than I thought! so make sure you research and go prepared.